Shoe.



No. 812,812. A PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906. F. X. BRODEUR.

SHOE.

APPLICATION FILED APR 14 1904.

TINITD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCOIS X. BRODEUR, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO EDWARD W. MULLINS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCOIS X. BRODEUR, of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to shoes of such nature as to employ counters in their construction-both boots and Oxfords-and has for its obj ect to provide certain improvements therein for the purpose of reducing the cost of manufacture and increasing the wearing qualities thereof.

As ordinarily constructed a shoeis provided with an upper having a lining and a counter interposed between the heel or back portion of the upper and the lining. The upper consists in some cases of a vamp and quarter, so called, and in other cases of a vamp, a foxing, and a top. The foXing is a strip of leather which extends from the rear edges of the vamp around the heel portion of the shoe and is joined to the top -by one or more rows of stitches. It is substantially similar in shape to the counter itself, and its edges usually extend slightly above the upper edges of the counter. That portion of the upper which overlies the counter forms a considerable portion thereof, and it is the purpose of the present invention to dispense with it, and thereby greatly reduce the cost of the shoe. This is accomplished by attaching the top of the upper directly to the counter by a row of stitches, so that the counter itself becomes a part of the upper and takes the place of either the heel portion of the quarter or of the foxing.

On the drawings, Figure l illustrates a shoe made in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 represents a transverse section through a portion of the shoe on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal vertical section through the rear portion of a shoe. Fig. 4 shows the upper as it is cut and before the counter is attached thereto. Fig. 5 illustrates a molded counter such as may be employed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 6 represents a flat counter, which may also be used as an alternative.

So far as the general features of construction of the shoe are concerned, the shoe does not differ from those hitherto manufactured, and it may be provided either with a welt or the sole may be stitched'on by the McKay machine. The upper, however, is provided with a vamp a and a top or quarter b. The top or quarter b is cut away just as though it were to be employed in connection with a foXing, so that the lining c shows, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

d indicates the counter. It may be either molded or flat, as shown in Fig. 6. It is attached to both the vamp and the top or quarter, with its upper edge d overlapping them, as shown in Fig. 1, and its upper edge is secured to the vamp and quarter by rows of stitches (Z2, so that the counter becomes a portion of the upper. The counter is colored to match the remainder of the upper, so that it is difficult to tell by inspection Whether it is different from the leather forming the remainder of the upper, although the counter itself is preferably formed of sole-leather or other heavy leather properly skived to make it soft and pliable near its edge. The upper edge of the counter is shaped to suit the prevailing style of shoe, and it may have an ornamental configuration, if desired.

As above stated, the counter is skived. Along the upper edge, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, this skiving is such that the stitches d2 unite the counter, lining, and the top or quarter b without leaving any objectionable ridge along either the outer or inner surfaces of the shoe. The lower edge of the top or quarter b is overlapped by the upper skived edge of the counter, while the lining c covers the entire interior surface, the said lower edge of the top or quarter being therefore firmly bound and secured between the lining and the upper edge of the counter, the stitches d2 passing through and uniting all three of these overlapped members.

While I may employ a flat counter, as stated, I prefer to employ a molded counter, as shown in Fig. 5, for it greatly reduces the labor necessary to the lasting operation, since a molded counter closely conforms to the heel end of the last.

Shoes constructed in accordance with this invention possess advantages over those IOO or quarter and-thelining it is frequently diffil in accordance with the invention is in thel saving of upper-leather- The counter is an essential portion of the shoe, and by dispensing with upper -leather to cover the counter there is saved not only the leather itself, but also the services of the cutter, where a foxing is employed. The shoe itself is stronger and more durable with this invention, since there are no seams at the back of the shoe, except above the upper edge of the counter.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a Way of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, I declare that what I claim is 1. A shoe having an exposed counter, a lining, and top or quarter, the lower edge of the latter being overlapped by the upper edge of the counter, unitin -stitches passing through the said overlappedg edges and the lining.

2. A shoe comprising a vamp, a top or quarter, an exposed counter having a skived upper'edge and overlapping the said top or quarter, a lining and stitches passing through the said parts of the shoe to secure the lower edge of the top or quarter between the counter and the lining.

3. A shoe having an exposed molded counter, a lining, and top or quarter, the lower edge of the latter being overlapped by the upper edge of the counter, uniting-stitches v passing through the said overlapped edges and the'lining.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCOIS X. BRODEUR. Witnesses:

CAROLYN C. STECHER, LAURENCE E. KENNEDY. 

